In what may prove to be an early test of a new state law aimed at protecting news reporters from government intervention, attorneys for Christopher Monfort have asked a King County judge to issue a subpoena for a reporter's notes taken during a series of interviews with the alleged cop killer.

Monfort, 41, stands accused in a series of attacks on Seattle police culminating in the slaying of Officer Tim Brenton in an Oct. 31 ambush. Brenton's partner, Officer Britt Sweeney, was wounded in the attack; Monfort was shot during his arrest days later at his Tukwila apartment.

While he has stopped short of admitting to the killing or an apparent arson at a city maintenance yard, Monfort has frequently used his court appearances to rant against police brutality. Prosecutors, who've have yet to say whether they'll seek a death sentence in the case, contend that he planned the series of attacks in part because of a longstanding hatred of police.

Lawry contends Martin interviewed Monfort at the King County Jail on three occasions in preparation for a news story. At the time, Lawry contended, Monfort was also being interviewed by mental health experts "to investigate Mr. Monfort's obvious mental health issues."

"Mr. Martin's interview with Mr. Monfort will be published, and (Martin) will likely become a state's witness," Lawry told the court.

"Mr. Monfort is entitled to a fair trial before an impartial jury," she continued. "He is also entitled to have full discovery from any potential witnesses against him."

The Times has yet to file a response to the defense request, which Kessler has said he will grant July 26 unless an objection is made.

Kessler previously ruled that a number of investigatory records compiled during the hunt for Monfort could be released over defense arguments that doing so would prevent Monfort from receiving a fair hearing.

Contrary to requests from prosecutors and Monfort's attorneys, Kessler ruled that some of the 188 pages of writings seized from Monfort are subject to public disclosure. On April 30, Kessler found that, while some of the writings were protected on First and Sixth Amendment grounds, a portion are not and must, therefore, be released.

The April 30 move, which is expected to draw an appeal from the defense, was preceded by another rant from Monfort.

While not admitting to the slaying or an Oct. 22 arson at a city of Seattle maintenance yard in which he is also accused, Monfort -- paralyzed from the waist down due to a gunshot received during his arrest -- began loudly deriding police shortly after being wheeled into the courtroom before that hearing.

Monfort continued, in essence claiming that a person who attacked police would be acting in self-defense. He then offered what seemed to be a veiled reference to an altercations between King County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Schene and a teen girl in a holding cell; prosecutors claim Monfort referenced the incident in materials left at arson scene.

Monfort is accused of shooting both Seattle officers as they sat in a parked patrol car reviewing a traffic stop in the city's Leschi neighborhood. Brenton, Sweeney's training officer, was struck by multiple rounds fired from the .223-caliber rifle and died at the scene.

Prosecutors contend Monfort also damaged several police vehicles during an attack on the maintenance garage at 714 S. Charles St. Monfort is alleged to have started a fire inside a RV-style mobile command center in an effort to draw firefighters to the scene before several incendiary devices detonated nearby.

Police tracked Monfort to his Tukwila home and moved to arrest him as Brenton's memorial service concluded. Prosecutors claim Monfort drew a pistol and tried to shoot the arresting officers before being shot himself.

The crime with which Monfort is charged, aggravated first-degree murder, carries only two sentences under state law -- life in prison without parole, or death.

State law requires that the prosecution review mitigating evidence -- in most cases, related to a defendant's mental health -- before deciding whether to ask a jury to impose a death sentence. King County Prosecutor Satterberg is expected to issue his decision later this year.

Charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson as well as aggravated murder, Monfort remains in King County Jail.